Perfect strangers

November 25, 2005|By Brian Hamilton, Tribune staff reporter.

Never mind the identically spotless 13-0 records, making the 3A championship game the only title encounter to feature two undefeated teams. Manlius Bureau Valley and Tolono Unity are so alike in so many other phases, every time the teams approach the line of scrimmage Friday, it'll be a case of mirror, mirror on the ball.

"It's like playing ourselves," Bureau Valley coach Dave Moore said.

"We throw the ball a lot more. But to be honest with you, we know what they do, and they know what we do."

The clubs run pretty much the same one-back offense, though Bureau Valley will balance it with quarterback Garrett Barnas (2,535 total yards, 36 total TDs) while Unity grinds it out behind fullback Henry Deters (2,864 yards rushing, 37 total TDs).

And neither cruised to those 13-0 marks. Unity, playing an independent schedule, took four trips of 2 1/2 hours or more. In its season opener, Bureau Valley was down two touchdowns to Amboy with five minutes left, then eked out a 22-21 victory.